Name of your website?Oil Painting Reproductions | Master Arts
Your name?
Jane Cocks
Your Location (city, etc)
I live in Adelaide.
When did you start your website and why?
One night just over a year ago, my husband asked me what I wanted for my 30th birthday. I have always been an avid art appreciator, and so I suggested that I would really love another Waterhouse print with a beautiful gold frame. I then suggested that it would be lovely to have a painting, rather than a print - he told me to forget it, and that to have one painting for me would cost far too much. I thought about it, and figured there would be a multitude of businesses online that would offer this sort of thing, and to my surprise found that there were very few businesses offering this product in Australia. After much research, hunting for talented artists, building of a website (and convincing of my husband), Master Arts was born on the 1st of October 2006. PS I had my 30th birthday two weeks ago, and guess what - I received a stunning hand painted Waterhouse reproduction :-) Dreams do come true!
Please give us a short summary of your website, business model, etc
We provide 100% hand painted oil on canvas masterpiece reproduction paintings. We can also paint portraits from photos. Our most popular paintings are Van Gogh, Monet, and Munch reproductions. We do business exlusively online which helps to keep costs down. We also ship worldwide for free.
What has been the most difficult part of creating and running your website?
The hardest thing for me has been understanding that the job is not finished when the website goes live. I have spent months reading about SEO, linking strategies, keyword analysis. It is a completely new world! I have learned a lot though, and now realise that good SEO is an ongoing job, so I allocate time to it regularly.
What has been the easist past of operating your website?
Dealing with the customers! I love customers - I often get requests for "you know that painting that looks a bit like...", and I get a thrill out of locating exactly what the customer wants.
What was your biggest mistake?
Initially, in the desperation to get listed instantly, I did a huge spend on Google adwords. I think this was a big mistake. If I could do it over - I would have spent a little bit more time researching keywords, and mastering adwords before spending all of the first months advertising budget in the first two weeks. I spent far too much per click, and my keywords were not targeted enough. I know now to go for the long tail.
Who maintains your website and why?
I do, because my brilliant web designer taught me how to do it. I wanted it to be constantly evolving, and it is. The best way to do that is for me to do it.
Tell us how your business has benefitted from your website?
It didn't exist without it!
What are your views on ecommerce and the future of the internet?
I think it is the medium of the future. Ten years ago, I never would have dreamed that I would be doing this - the internet just didn't feature in my daily life at all. Now, myself and most others that I know, wouldn't know how to function without it.
What are your views on Search Engine Optimization (SEO)?
It is hard to master. I think it is an excellent concept - tweaking a website in a multitude of ways so that it will be listed better, but I have a strong suspicion that some masters of SEO at the top, shouldn't be there, while others who have higher quality sites, should be there. I guess all systems are inevitable inequitable.
What are your views on Search Engines? Have they helped or hindered your website?
I am not terribly well listed for the best keywords in most search engines. Having said this, most of my business comes from natural search, so I can't complain! It can only improve as my SEO skills improve.
What method has been most successful for promoting your website?
Customer referral, word of mouth. People see the quality of the product, and want one (and why wouldn't they?). On the internet, it is much harder to appreciate the paintings for what they are. People who see them, and all of my customers are always very impressed. Happy customers are always the best promotion for any business.
What method has been least successful for promoting your website?
Direct marketing. I won't be doing that again. People aren't interested in paper anymore!
What would you like to see change with respect to the internet?
A difficult question. I guess I would like it to be a more involved sensory experience. It is too one-dimensional at the moment. Emotion and human interest are invoked when more of the sensory modalities are switched on. We need sound, movement, visual, interaction between viewer and internet. Yes - I suppose I'm talking about web 2.0. It's coming I think. Are we ready though?!
What is your website address?
Oil Painting Reproductions | Master Arts
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